Monday, March 18, 2013

CCHA names seven players to All-Rookie Team

CCHA Press Release

Four schools had one student-athlete named to the 2013 CCHA All-Rookie Team, with Miami University boasting three selections. This marks the 25th year that the conference has named an all-rookie team. Thirteen freshmen garnered at least one vote.

Determined by a vote of the conference’s head coaches, the team will be honored at the 2013 CCHA Awards on Friday, March 22, at the Fox Theatre in Detroit. The 2013 CCHA Championship is March 23-24 at Joe Louis Arena. Tickets and more information are available at CCHA.com.

2013 CCHA All-Rookie Team

Riley Barber

Forward

Miami University

Livonia, Mich.

Mario Lucia

Forward

University of Notre Dame

Plymouth, Minn.

Tyler Morley

Forward

University of Alaska

Burnaby, B.C.

Jacob Trouba

Defenseman

University of Michigan

Rochester, Mich.

Matthew Caito

Defenseman

Miami University

Coto de Caza, Calif.

Kenney Morrison

Defenseman

Western Michigan University

Lloydminster, Alta.

Ryan McKay

Goaltender

Miami University

Palatine, Ill.

Riley Barber, a 19-year-old forward from Livonia, Mich., and Miami University, was the only unanimous selection to the All-Rookie team. Barber was a four-time CCHA Gongshow Rookie of the Week recipient as well as the league’s October and November Gongshow Rookie of the Month. The Washington Capitals draft pick led the CCHA in overall scoring, tallying 15 goals and 36 points. His 21 assists and 36 points were tops in the nation among all rookies. He finished second in conference scoring with a 12-18-30 scoring line.

Mario Lucia, a 19-year-old forward from Plymouth, Minn., and the University of Notre Dame, finished third among CCHA rookies in conference scoring, tying Barber for most goals by a freshman with 12. His 21 points tied for second on Notre Dame. The Minnesota Wild draft pick was named CCHA Gongshow Rookie of the Week twice, Postgame Offensive Player of the Week once and earned the Gongshow Rookie of the Month honor in December.

Tyler Morley, a 21-year-old forward from Burnaby, B.C., and the University of Alaska, finished the regular season with eight goals and 15 points and was the CCHA Gongshow Rookie of the Week once in the 2012-13 campaign. He finished third in scoring on the Nanooks, led all CCHA rookies in short-handed goals with two and scored three game-winning goals, tying him with Barber for the most among CCHA freshmen.

Jacob Trouba, a 19-year-old defenseman from Rochester, Mich., and the University of Michigan, consistently played in the Wolverines top two defensive pairs. The Winnipeg Jets first-round draft pick led all CCHA defensemen in goals and points, finding the back of the net seven times and potting 18 points. Half of Trouba’s points came with the man advantage, where he scored four times and assisted on five goals.

Matthew Caito, a 19-year-old defenseman from Coto de Caza, Calif., and Miami University, finished with five goals and 16 points, leading Miami defensemen in all three scoring categories. Playing in one of Miami’s top defensive pairs, Caito finished with a +9 rating and was named the CCHA Gladiator Defenseman of the Week twice.

Kenney Morrison, a 21-year-old defenseman from Lloydminster, Alta., and Western Michigan University, finished in a second-place tie for overall scoring among defenseman with six goals and 17 points. His five power-play goals and 14 power-play points paced all defensemen in the CCHA. Morrison was named CCHA Gongshow Rookie of the Week once.

Ryan McKay, a 20-year-old goaltender from Palatine, Ill., and Miami University, bounced back from an early-season injury to post a league best 1.32 goals-against average and .951 save percentage, while earning an 8-3-1 record with two shutouts. In overall play, McKay’s 1.17 goals-against average and .957 save percentage were the best in the country among all goaltenders.